A.N.: Thanks for all the reads! And sorry about the wait I like to go through a rigorous editing process to make sure I'm giving you guys my best work!
*All rights and characters go to the Genius known as J.K. Rowling for she and she alone created the wonderful world of Harry Potter*
Chapter 1: On My Own
Street in Inner London-
~1 year later~
"Spare change anyone? Spare change for a struggling mother?" The former lavish, pure-blood supremacist Bellatrix Lestrange hopelessly called out into the chaotic horde of muggles trying to get to work. It had been one year since October thirty-first, and the events that had transpired still did not make sense to Bellatrix. The weeks following that Halloween had been pandemonium, the daily prophet didn't know whether to rejoice in the mysterious disappearance of Voldemort or mourn at the loss of young Harry Potter.
Life had been rather confusing for Bellatrix the past year as well. Not only did she have a baby to take care of and feed, but she also had to break off all communications with everyone she knew, essentially disappearing from the wizard world. She had started by trying to find jobs in the magical world, but too many people recognized her. She felt as if she was constantly running from either death eaters or the Ministry's Aurors. Then a couple of months ago the minister of magic started really cracking down on arresting known death eaters, and after a few close calls with Aurors that could have easily ended in her or Harry's death, she fled to the muggle streets in London.
Bellatrix had sadly realized that the only sure way she could keep the death eaters from finding her was to stay homeless and live in the streets. It was hard always being tired, cold, and hungry especially if you were a rapidly growing 12 month old baby.
She took a break from her peddling and turned into an alley where she had her little Harry wrapped in a blanket in a box. He was growing more, and more everyday and had even started to walk. It was becoming increasingly difficult for her to hide him during the day while she went out in search of work. As she took her little boy into her lap she pulled out a carton of milk and a piece of stale bread, and began the process of trying to feed Harry. She could go long periods without eating, but Harry was so small and young he needed to eat almost every day; and with her meager wages that could be quiet challenging.
Harry happily drank up the milk, but getting him to try to chew the hard bead was another task entirely. He was to old to survive on just her milk alone, but wasn't old enough to be able to chew the hard bread. However, he needed the few nutrients that it offered. She stared into her sons tiny eyes and felt for the first time that she was truly in love, and that it was all worth it to be able to call this little boy her son. She looked up as a near by church bell struck 5:00,
"Well my darling I would say it's time to head to job number two." Not that Bellatrix called this much of a job, but it was one of the few she had been able to find in the wizarding world. Not that she had much time to think about it as everything went black, and the familiar feeling of apparating surrounded her.
Bellatrix's feet hit the ground in Knockturn Alley, she looked around carefully holding harry under her tattered shawl, and made her way towards the pub she was currently employed in. As Bellatrix walked in she met eyes with the toad faced, con artist that sadly was her boss.
"There you are!" He croaked, his breath giving away the strong scent of Fire-Whiskey, "I only have two waitresses to-night, and you know this is the busiest time for us!" Bellatrix laughed to her self as she looked around at the all but 4 people in the pub, but to be completely honest with herself it was the busiest she had ever seen the place.
" Are you even listening to me!" a cranky voice yelled breaking Bella's thoughts, " And you brought that kid of your's w\hich does nothing but eat our food and stink the place up. I have the right to fire you ya' know, but my kind heart feels bad for you so I'm letting you keep the kid here, and.." She assumed he was going to continue ranting about how much he hated having her work here, but they both knew there wasn't a witch in the world who would do what she did and not even demand minimum wage. She had to do it though, it was the longest she had ever been able to hold a job in the past year, and she was closer than ever to having enough to start renting a room for herself and Harry.
Bellatrix finally finished up around 2:00 am and quickly grabbed Harry who was luckily sleeping and rushed out the back with her meager 8 sickles before her slimy boss could give her another task. She hurried out into the cold night air, and seeing only a few drunks in the street she quickly made her way, clutching Harry's small body to her chest, into a back alley where she knew a baker left his back kitchen door open.
She was so close she could see the light in the doorway, almost taste the fresh bread, feel the warmth of the oven, when she heard it. The silky smooth laugh of her brother-in-law was the last thing she wanted to hear now. They had to find her right now she had been so careful!, and she was so close to getting that room for herself and Harry.
"Well if it isn't the once so fine Bellatrix Lestrange, I saw you begging in the streets the other day. Really Bella, begging?"
"What do you want, Lucius?" Bella said through gritted teeth. Just then Harry started crying from under Bellatrix's is Shawl.
" So is this the bastard child of some drunk you slept with to pay your rent?" Lucius maliciously stepping forward, peeling back the cloth so that he could get a better look at the child. Bellatrix was proud of herself for the glamour charms she had put on Harry making his scar disappear and his green eyes turn to black like hers.
"Get your hands of my son!" Bellatrix said harshly, " and leave us alone." She added almost pleading with well dressed blonde in front of her. It wasn't fair how those rotten Malfoys always had everything handed to them on a silver platter. And of course it was her sister who was able to be married into that family while she was stuck with ass-hole Rodolphus. Who didn't seem to do anything but drink and beat her.
" You want me to leave you alone?" Lucius said clearly starting to get frustrated, " Then tell me where the Dark Lord is."
" I don't know, Lucius," Bellatrix said suddenly becoming scared by how angry her sister's husband seemed.
" You have to know!" He said, his face turning red. "You were with him the night he went to kill the Potters, you must have betrayed him, you are a traitor to us all!" Lucius yelled. Pushing Bellatrix into a wall, he watched her fall to the ground barely being able to catch Harry before she hit the pavement. She looked up through her tangled hair just in time to see Lucius grasp an emerald medallion around his neck causing it to glow. Realizing what he was doing she pushed Harry behind a box whispering for him to stay there. She tried to stand only to stumble before she could regain her balance.
"Well if it isn't rotten traitor Lestrange out for a midnight stroll" the sickening voice of Barty Crouch Jr. cackled. Bellatrix tried to back away from him only to smack into the hard chests of Amycus and Alecto Carrow.
"Yah, what you do Lestrange?" Amycus growled while his sister pinned Bellatrix's arms behind her back. "Was the dark lord murdered by his most faithful follower?" Bellatrix looked like she was about to answer, but Amycus's fist connected with her gut first. She fell to the ground, since she was so skinny it didn't take a lot to put her off-balance. She swore she heard a rib crack as someone's foot connected with chest.
"Please Lucius, please"
"Oh you want it to stop?" Her sister's husband said mockingly. "Then tell us what happened to the Dark Lord!"
" I told you I don't know!" Bellatrix yelled, tears rushing down her face. From lack of food and just decent living conditions her body was extremely weak, and it was not going to be able to stand much more of this. Panicked thoughts entered her mind as the three younger death eaters continued to hit her. What if she didn't make it through this? What if they took her some where? Who would take care of Harry? Would he freeze to death out here, or would someone find him? Bellatrix fought to keep what little was in her stomach down, but it was no use as a spray of vomit shot out of her mouth covering Barty's expensive boots.
" Worthless whore." he sneered before letting his boot connect with her face. She felt her skin splitting open, blood rushing down her cheek, as time seemed to slow down. The pavement seemed to be getting closer, no, was getting closer as Bellatrix's temple hit it with a smack causing more blood to stream down her face. All Bellatrix could do was cry as the death eaters seemed to mercilessly kick and hit her. Many times unconsciousness threatened her, but she had to fight the blackness for Harry. She could not afford being knocked out for a day, and losing the one thing that she cared about in this shit world.
Finally Lucius seemed to call them off, and just like that it was over. After all that time they finally left, and all that was left was herself and Harry. Harry! She had almost forgotten! She half crawled, half dragged herself to where she had hidden her little boy. She slowly moved the blanket back and lifter Harry into her arms. She could clearly see through her blood encrusted eyes that he was unable to recognize her bruised and bloodied face. All Bellatrix could do was hug her little boy tight to her body. She took her wand out and used it to asses her injuries, she then shouted the enchantment aguamenti so that she could wash the blood off her face. She stared into those little green eyes and started to sing the only song she really knew, not so much for Harry, but for herself.
" Nothing's gonna harm you, not while I'm around
Nothing's gonna harm you, no sir, not while I'm around
Demons are prowling everywhere nowadays
I'll send them howling, I don't care, I've got ways
No one's gonna hurt you, no one's gonna dare
Others can desert you, not to worry, whistle I'll be there
Demons'll charm you with a smile for awhile
But in time nothing can harm you, not while I'm around" As she finished a single tear ran down her face. "Nothings gonna harm you Harry Sirius Lestrange." *
*Not while I'm around, Sweeney Todd
A.N.: Thanks a ton for all the reads! And PLEASE comment!
